Bench structure

ABSTRACT

A joining pedestal for benches assembled in line and formed with seats and back rests. The pedestal has a lower post with a wide top to seat meeting end-portions of adjoining bench seats; and such portions have setbacks to receive the shank of an upper pedestal portion. The latter seats at the rear in setbacks of the back rests continued upwardly from those of the seats. The upper pedestal portion is tapered in forward direction to form an arm rest. Before assembling the pedestal and bench end-portions as stated, the joining areas are coated with an adhesive.

United States Patent 1191 Abelman BENCH STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: HershelAbelmau, 1636 Columbia Ave., Chicago, 111. 60626 [22] Filed: Feb. 28,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 229,796

[52] U.S. Cl 297/440, 297/248, 297/411, 297/416, 297/422, 297/457 [51]Int. Cl A47c 7/00,'A47c 1/16, A47c 7/54 [58] Field of Search 297/454,251, 248, 297/243, 418, 5, 422,118, 421, 332, 440,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,640,576 2/1972 Morrison eta1. 297/248 2,711,786 6/1955 Weiss...'. 297/457 X 3,012,818 12/1961Brown 297/248 3,619,004 l1/1971 McKernan 297/248 3,584,916 6/1971 Bayes297/440 1,862,382 6/1932 Mathis 297/419 1451 July 24, 1973 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 360,386 1938 Italy 297/440 980,596 1951 France297/416 806,110 1953 Great Britain 297/416 Primary Examiner-Paul R.Gilliam Attorney-S. J. Lehrer [5 7] ABSTRACT A joining pedestal forbenches assembled in line and formed with seats and back rests. Thepedestal has a lower post with a wide top to seat meeting end-portionsof adjoining bench seats; and such portions have setbacks to receive theshank of an upper pedestal portion. The latter seats at the rear insetbacks of the back rests continued upwardly from those of the seats.The upper pedestal portion is tapered in forward direction to form anarm rest. Before assembling the pedestal and bench end-portions asstated, the joining areas are coated with an adhesive.

6 Claims, Drawing Figures BENCH STRUCTURE My invention relates tooutdoor benches of stone or concrete which extend in multiple, and moreparticularly to the means which join the benches in endwise succession.Since the manufacture and assembly of benches in this class is costlywhen mechanical joining means such as bolts and holes made for them areused, it is one object of the present invention to join the bencheseconomically by shaping them endwise to fit a novel and simple joiningmedium, the interposition of an epoxy cement at the joints serving tosecure the benches together firmly and permanently.

A further object is to provide a pedestal for joining benches endwisewhich conforms to the design of the same.

A still further object is to provide a joining pedestal which combinesan arm rest with a support for the end portions of adjacent benches.

Another object is to provide interlocking means between the benches andintermediate joining pedestals which prevent the benches from moving outof line with the pedestals.

An additional object is to design the pedestal as a one-piece unit whichreceives very simple endformations of adjacent benches to fit thepedestal to the same. i

A final object is to provide a pedestal which may be used either as anintermediate support for benches joined end-wise, or as a support foreither or both ends of a single bench or the ends of a row of benches.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference tothe accompanying drawing, in

which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of benches in line showing theapplication ,of the novel joining pedestal;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the pedestal in separated relation to abench;

FIG. 3 is an end view from the left-hand side of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a pedestal at the joint.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes the seat of a typicalstone or concrete outdoor bench. The seat usually has a decline towardthe back, as noted in FIG. 3; and it rises at the rear with a tiltedback rest 11, the angles of the seat and back rest combining to lendcomfort to the-bench occupants. The back rest is preferably of openconstruction as indicated at Ila to promote drainage and provide seatingcomfort. 7

It is customary in joining benches end-to-end to provide an intermediatesupport for their adjacent endportions. In the present case the supportis a concrete post 13 which extends crosswise of the bench seats, and isformed with a widened top 130. The latter receives the end-portions ofadjacent bench seats in substantially meeting relation as indicated inFIG. 1, providing a wide support for the same as indicated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 shows that a shank l4 rises from the rear portion of the post top13a; and that the shank has a top portion 14a tapered forwardly at 14bto form an arm rest. While the shank 14 is of reduced depth, it is notedthat the arm rest 14a extends toward the front of the bench to provide along arm support.

It is noted that the end portions of the bench seat and back rest arecut with communicating setbacks 10a and 11b. Thus, while the seats andback rests of adjacent benches meet substantially in front and at thetop, the setbacks 10a and 11b form clearances to receive the arm restshank 14 between them as shown in the center of FIG. 1. This makes for aclose fit of the joining pedestal with the benches adjacent to it. Also,the set backs have a stop l0b'in front and one Us at the top. The stop10b locks the bench against creeping rearwardly when occupants sit back.The stop He furnishes an added support for the back rest on the armrest, since this stop meets the unyielding resistance of the arm resttop when the back rest receives rearward tilting strains.

In assembling adjoining benches with the pedestal interposed, an epoxycement components from deposited on the joining surfaces of thecomponents; and it is only necessary to gather these with some pressurein order to secure a proper fit between them. While the cement may berelied upon to keep the bench compononetsfrom coming apart, the natureof the bench joints and the weight of the components will insure thestability and safety of the benches.

It is further apparent that the novel pedestal has the added advantageof utmost simplicity by being made in one piece, while possessing thefunctional attributes and advantages described above. Further, thepedestal and its joining relation also have the advantage of economy,since no holes have to be made in any'part and no bolts or'otherfastenings applied which mightcause injury to occupants, get loose, orstain the benches with rust after rainy weather. Further, the pedestalis also usable as a support for either or both endsof asingle bench orat theends of a row of benches, as suggested in FIG.'1. Finally, theinvention provides a multiple outdoor bench which uses ready-madecomponents, secures them finnly and permanently, and. lends the benchesa neat appearance.

I claim:

1. In a bench structurehaving a unitary back and-seat section and acombined arm rest and pedestalextending cross-wise of said section toreceive and support one end of said section, theimprovements comprisinga pedestal having a projection extending laterally from each verticalface-of the pedestal to receive and. support one end of a said sectionon each side of said pedestal, the arm rest extending forward'from therear face of the pedestal and upwardly from said lateralprojections toreceive one of said back and seat sectionson each side thereof; acut-out section in each end of said back and section comprising a setback in thebackportion of said section adjoining a set back in saidseat'portion of said section, each said-cut-out section receiving a saidarmrest in matingengagement and locking said back and seat sectiontosaid'combined arm rest and pedestal.

2. A bench structure according to claim -1 wherein the said combinedpedestal comprises avertically rising post having a lateral extension oneach sideto forma widened top surface to supportingly receive one endportion of said unitary section on each sideof said post and the armrest comprises a shank seg-ment-centrally positioned on the widened topsurface and-extending upwardly from the rear portion of the widened topsurface in the vertical plane of the said post and:having a 3. A benchstructure according to claim 1 wherein the length of said first set backis substantially equalzto the said depth of said shank segment, thelength of said second set back is substantially equal to the height ofsaid shank segment, the depth of said set backs being substantiallyequal to one-half the thickness of said shank segment.

4. A bench structure according to claim 3 wherein the surface of saidfirst stop matches the front surface of the fore-part of said shanksegment to prevent rearward lateral and piv-otal movement of saidsection when said pedestal is place in said first set back and thesurface of said second stop matches the top surface of said top portionto prevent forward movement of said section.

5. A bench structure according to claim 1 further compris-ing means toretain said pedestal and said section in said mat-ing and self-lockingengagements.

6. A bench structure comprising a unitary seat and back section and acombined arm rest and support pedestal extend-ing cross-wise of the saidsection to lockingly receive and sup-port each end of said unitarysection, said combined pedestal comprising a vertically rising posthaving a widened surface in the mid-portion of said post to supportinglyreceive one end portion of a said unitary section on each side of saidpost and the are rest comprising a shank segment extending upwardly fromthe rear portion of the widened surface of the said post and having atop portion extending forwardly beyond the forward face of the shanksegment, the top surface of said portion forming an angle with the back,said each end having a first set back in the seat portion forming afirst stop, the surface of said first stop matching the front surface ofthe said shank segment, and a second set back in the adjoining backportion communicating with the first set back and forming a second stop,the surface of said second stop matching the surface of said topportion, said set backs and said stops forming a cut-out section on eachend portion to receive a said arm rest in mating and self-lockingengagement therewith to prevent movement of said section when said endof a said section is supportingly engaged with said pedestal.

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1. In a bench structure having a unitary back and seat section and a combined arm rest and pedestal extending cross-wise of said section to receive and support one end of said section, the improvements comprising a pedestal having a projection extending laterally from each vertical face of the pedestal to receive and support one end of a said section on each side of said pedestal, the arm rest extending forward from the rear face of the pedestal and upwardly from said lateral projections to receive one of said back and seat sections on each side thereof; a cut-out section in each end of said back and section comprising a set back in the back portion of said section adjoining a set back in said seat portion of said section, each said cut-out section receiving a said arm rest in mating engagement and locking said back and seat section to said combined arm rest and pedestal.
 2. A bench structure according to claim 1 wherein the said combined pedestal comprises a vertically rising post having a lateral extension on each side to form a widened top surface to supportingly receive one end portion of said unitary section on each side of said post and the arm rest comprises a shank seg-ment centrally positioned on the widened top surface and extending upwardly from the rear portion of the widened top surface in the vertical plane of the said post and having a top portion extending forwardly and having a top surface forming an angle with said back, the length of the top portion being greater than the back to fore depth of the shank segment.
 3. A bench structure according to Claim 1 wherein the length of said first set back is substantially equal to the said depth of said shank segment, the length of said second set back is substantially equal to the height of said shank segment, the depth of said set backs being substantially equal to one-half the thickness of said shank segment.
 4. A bench structure according to claim 3 wherein the surface of said first stop matches the front surface of the fore-part of said shank segment to prevent rearward lateral and piv-otal movement of said section when said pedestal is place in said first set back and the surface of said second stop matches the top surface of said top portion to prevent forward movement of said section.
 5. A bench structure according to claim 1 further compris-ing means to retain said pedestal and said section in said mat-ing and self-locking engagements.
 6. A bench structure comprising a unitary seat and back section and a combined arm rest and support pedestal extend-ing cross-wise of the said section to lockingly receive and sup-port each end of said unitary section, said combined pedestal comprising a vertically rising post having a widened surface in the mid-portion of said post to supportingly receive one end portion of a said unitary section on each side of said post and the are rest comprising a shank segment extending upwardly from the rear portion of the widened surface of the said post and having a top portion extending forwardly beyond the forward face of the shank segment, the top surface of said portion forming an angle with the back, said each end having a first set back in the seat portion forming a first stop, the surface of said first stop matching the front surface of the said shank segment, and a second set back in the adjoining back portion communicating with the first set back and forming a second stop, the surface of said second stop matching the surface of said top portion, said set backs and said stops forming a cut-out section on each end portion to receive a said arm rest in mating and self-locking engagement therewith to prevent movement of said section when said end of a said section is supportingly engaged with said pedestal. 